indicative

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "indicative" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe something that suggests or indicates something else. For example, "The high number of applicants was indicative of the popularity of the program."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet, far from expressing wonder that an act as extreme and barbaric as the murders is what it takes for the west to show defiance towards a religious duty that is not meaningful to non-Muslims, cultural provocateurs successfully argue that this highly exceptional situation is in fact indicative of a general contempt for Islam.

The Guardian - Opinion

The University of Edinburgh's decision to continue investment is indicative of its failure to recognise both these stark facts and the urgency of the issue.

The Guardian

Abbott's recent suggestion that the defining moment of this country was the arrival of the First Fleet was indicative of this mentality.

The Guardian - Opinion

With more than 20 million followers on Twitter and photo-sharing service Instagram, Kardashian became a star on TV but is now indicative of a new breed who can reach their fans without it.

The Guardian

FARE and SOVA believe the figures are indicative of an even wider problem.

The Guardian - Sport

The desperate search for motives, sifting hopelessly through his rap lyrics for clues, is indicative of how misplaced this approach is.

The Guardian - Opinion

The fate of their younger brother is indicative of the harsh conditions facing journalists in Egypt.

The Guardian

He said of Caffe Nero: "You can taste a rich smoothness you'd expect of a Central American coffee with an edge of spiciness indicative of an African coffee".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ally McCoist has been encouraged by news of interest in Rangers ahead of Friday's deadline for first indicative bids.

The Guardian - Sport

"They say, 'Here's some young women to do whatever you want,' we have lots of examples of that, really brazen activity and indicative of a lack of fear".

The Guardian

But much more indicative of the site are The Hound Riders of P'toonig'ai by Scoots McCoy, a closeup of a pet dog; and BIRTH CONTROL IS SINFUL IN THE CHRISTIAN MARRIAGES and also ROBBING GOD OF PRIESTHOOD CHILDREN!! by Ms Eliyzabeth Yanne Strong-Anderson, a blurry image of the ticked-off author.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "indicative" when you want to suggest that something serves as a sign or symptom of something else, but avoid overusing it in simple contexts where "shows" or "suggests" would suffice.

Common error

Avoid using "indicative" when making direct, factual statements. "Indicative" implies a suggestion or sign, not a definitive truth. For instance, don't say "The sky is blue, which is indicative of good weather" when you simply mean "The sky is blue, which suggests good weather."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "indicative" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that serves as a sign, indication, or suggestion. Ludwig provides numerous examples where "indicative" describes a quality or characteristic, such as "indicative of a shifting mentality". Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

After a thorough analysis, Ludwig has determined that the adjective "indicative" functions to highlight that something serves as a sign or symptom of something else. It's grammatically correct and appears frequently in formal contexts such as News & Media and Formal & Business, as confirmed by Ludwig. When using "indicative", it's important to correctly use "of" as the corresponding preposition, and to avoid substituting it in direct statements, since it inherently suggests a suggestion rather than an overt declaration. Consider using alternatives such as "suggestive of" or "representative of" for nuanced contexts. Ludwig AI validates that "indicative" is used correctly in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suggestive of

Emphasizes the hint or implication quality.

representative of

Highlights the role of serving as a typical example.

symptomatic of

Implies that something is a symptom or sign of a larger problem.

reflective of

Indicates that something mirrors or shows the nature of something else.

evidence of

Directly points to proof or support for something.

a sign of

A more straightforward and common way to say something suggests something else.

demonstrative of

Highlights the act of clearly showing or proving something.

illustrative of

Indicates that something provides a clear example.

pointing to

Suggests a direction or focus of attention.

suggesting that

Uses a verb form to indicate an indirect declaration.

FAQs

How can I use "indicative" in a sentence?

Use "indicative" to show something serves as a sign or suggestion of something else. For example, "The rising unemployment rate is "indicative of" a weakening economy".

What are some alternatives to the word "indicative"?

You can use alternatives like "suggestive of", "representative of", or "symptomatic of", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something "is indicative for" instead of "is indicative of"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "indicative" is "of". Saying something "is indicative for" is grammatically incorrect. Always use ""indicative of"".

What's the difference between "indicative" and "suggestive"?

"Indicative" implies serving as a sign or symptom, while "suggestive" implies hinting at something indirectly. While both can overlap, "indicative" is often used for more concrete or observable signs, and "suggestive" for more nuanced or abstract hints.